Abstract A method of producing a twisted, stabilized wire or tube superconductor which can be used to wind electromagnets, armatures, rotors, field windings for motors and generators, and other magnetic devices which use a solenoid, toroidal, or other type winding. At least one groove is formed along the length of a wire substrate which is then twisted into a helix and a layer of intermetallic superconducting material is formed in the groove. This layer can be formed by depositing the desired intermetallic compound into the groove or by diffusing one component of the superconductor into the groove formed in a substrate composed of the other component. The superconductor prepared by this method comprises a non-superconductor wire twisted into the shape of a helix, having at least one groove containing a layer of superconductor material along the length of the wire.
The method of forming a twisted superconducting wire according to claim 1 wherein said substrate wire is selected from the group of metals consisting of stainless steel, niobium, Hastelloy and vanadium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of forming a twisted superconducting wire according to claim 1 wherein said superconducting material is an intermetallic compound.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of forming a twisted superconducting wire according to claim 3 wherein said intermetallic compound is Nb3Sn.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of forming a twisted Superconducting wire according to claim 1 wherein said superconducting material is vapor-deposited in said groove.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of forming a twisted superconducting wire according to claim 5 wherein said superconducting material is vapor-deposited in the groove by passing a mixture of vaporized niobium pentachloride, tin dichloride and hydrogen over the substrate wire heated to a temperature sufficient to reduce the chlorides and form Nb3Sn.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of forming a twisted superconducting wire according to claim 6 wherein said wire is heated to a temperature of approximately 900* C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of forming a twisted superconducting wire according to claim 3 wherein said wire substrate comprises one element of said intermetallic compound and the layer of superconducting material is formed by diffusing the second component of said intermetallic compound into the surface of the groove.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of forming a twisted superconducting wire according to claim 8 wherein said substrate comprises niobium and said second component is tin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of forming a twisted superconducting wire according to claim 9 wherein the tin is diffused into the grooves by immersing the twisted wire into a molten tin bath at a temperature of approximately 950* C.